How to Design the Perfect Patio in Your Backyard

Upgrading your backyard is a simple way to increase the value of your home and encourage spending time outside. When you start from scratch designing your patio, you can customize the space to fit your needs. Before you start, there are a couple steps you should consider.

Think of Your Purpose

Everyone wants to use their outdoor space differently. What might work for your neighbors might not work for you. If your patio will be a place for eating meals, you might want to focus on creating an outdoor kitchen dining space. If you’d rather have it be more casual and a place to hang out, you should opt for a lounge feel instead with more seating. If you want the space to be functional in all seasons, you should include a fire pit in the design or a covering. Understanding what you want your patio to be used for will help you move forward in the design and construction process.

Lay Your Ground

Depending on where you live and what you want, there are different materials that are best for your patio. The main options you can choose between are concrete, brick, or hardscaping.  Pouring concrete is more affordable than hardscaping your entire back patio. Concrete also has less upkeep. A brick patio provides more options for intricate designs and will last throughout the years of different weather conditions with little wear or fade. It is more expensive than concrete, it is cheaper than hardscaping. However, hardscaping is great for yards that need a bit more work if it is uneven. Hardscaping can also be intertwined with your landscape to create permanent features that last all year.

Build a Cover

Regardless of where you live, you probably experience poor weather conditions from time to time. Building a cover can shield you and your patio from the elements. This also helps preserve the workmanship, decreasing the chances you have of needing to replace or repair anything prematurely. If your patio normally gets a lot of sun in the summer, a cover can provide much needed shade and relief from the heat. You can also install overhead lighting, allowing you to stay on your longer into the night. If your outdoor patio has an entertainment system, a covering can protect the electronics from water damage as well.

Add Natural Features

To liven up your patio, you can add natural decorations. Even though you are outside, your patio can be greatly improved with landscaping around it or just adding in some plants. This helps with the overall aesthetic and feel of your patio. Potted plants are easiest to move around depending on your needs and replace if they die. It is best to pick heat-tolerant plants if you live in a warmer climate, like bamboo, succulents, and tropical flowers. You can also add a fountain to add in a unique feature on your patio and provide a calming background sound.

Close it in

If you want to go one step further than having your patio covered, you can also get the patio completely enclosed. This gives you all the benefits of being outside but gives you the added protection from pests and bugs that might ruin your outdoor experience. You could screen it in or turn it into a sunroom and close it up with glass walls. This also provides added security and privacy from others around you. The mesh screen is easy to replace if damaged and if you change your mind and would rather have it be completely open, it can be easily removed.

Install Entertainment

For any outdoor function you have on your patio, you will most likely want music playing in the background. While you can always bring a speaker outside, music can often be muffled by the sounds of the outdoors, especially if your patio is not covered. Most outdoor speakers are waterproof, meaning that you can leave them up throughout the year. You can also invest in a projector, which enables you to turn your patio into an outdoor movie theater. This option is much more accessible than purchasing a television for the outdoors, although those do exist.

Find the Perfect Furniture

Going back to the purpose of your patio, the furniture you use can transform your patio’s function. Just like the furniture in your home, outdoor furniture has different materials and different styles. You will want to choose pieces that are good quality and will last longer. For example, wood furniture lasts a long time, but is more expensive than plastic furniture. However, if the furniture is not equipped for all types of weather, you will also need to think about a place to store them in the colder months. With cushions and tablecloths, you can change up the look as often as you want to without being stuck to one theme each year.

Other Amenities

If your patio or yard is large enough, you can install a hot tub or pool to diversify the space. Having a hot tub or pool by the patio gives you and your guest another reason to be outside and you will find yourself not only having barbecues, but also pool parties and hot tub nights. Your patio can be the center of all these events. A hot tub can be used year round and a pool is a great place if you have kids. If cooking is more your speed, a patio can be home for your grill and smoker. An outdoor kitchen allows you to fully entertain outside and limit the trips you need to make into your house.

When you build a patio, you can transform your backyard into a relaxing space you will want to spend all your free time in. You can also create the perfect space for summer parties for your friends and family. As you find what styles you like and figure out what role you want your patio to have as part of your home, you will find yourself making excuses to be outside, regardless of the weather.

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